In between the end of the college football season and the draft are a series of key events. Those include the recently completed Senior Bowl week, the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine and pro days, in which players perform in front of scouts at either their own college or one near by.

A website that focuses on the NFL draft recently reported that some draft-eligible players had tested positive for drugs. However, an NFL spokesman refuted that Friday, saying “neither the 32 clubs nor the league office know the results of drug or steroid tests taken at the 2009 Combine.”

After initially intending to try to go through his pro day later this month, Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree changed his mind this weekend and opted to have surgery on the slight stress fracture in his left foot.

Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtreeand his advisers have decided to hold off on any surgery for the slight stress fracture in his left foot until after his March 26 Pro Day, those close to the player said Saturday. Crabtree is not feeling any pain in his foot and still wants to run the 40-yard dash for NFL coaches and scouts next month.

There was a lot of mystery surrounding what the quarterbacks would and wouldn’t do. But moments ago, USC quarterback Mark Sanchez said he would throw at this weekend’s scouting combine. Sanchez will not bench press, however. Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford will not throw or bench, but will participate in the running drills.

Economic challenges are being felt everywhere, and NFL scouting is no exception.

Teams are looking to reduce costs wherever possible. And one area that involves the greatest amount of expense is travel, which also happens to be the primary means by which clubs assess college prospects.

Combine presented by Under ArmourThe 2013 Scouting Combine, which will be held from Feb. 20 to Feb. 26, is the annual job fair for prospective new NFL players. Players are put through a series of drills, tests and interviews at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with more than 600 NFL personnel including head coaches, general managers and scouts in attendance.